A potential explosive device sent to the New York offices of CNN forced evacuations that sent people crowding into the sidewalks near Columbus Circle.

Crudely-constructed pipe bombs were mailed to the homes of ex-Presidents Clinton and Obama, the office of outspoken Rep. Maxine Waters and CNN’s Manhattan newsroom — four of the White House’s favorite targets for abuse.

A total of five homemade bombs were sent, most likely by the same suspect or suspects, in a span of less than 48 hours starting with a Monday night package at the home of Democratic billionaire Democrat George Soros, officials said.

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While the pernicious packages sent to the three politicians were intercepted by federal authorities, the CNN mailing reached the cable news channel’s Columbus Circle mailroom and forced a Wednesday morning evacuation by all employees.

Some of the nondescript manila envelopes with pre-printed addresses carried the return address of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Sunrise, Fla., office. A pipe bomb intended for ex-Attorney General Eric Holder bounced back to her after the sender used the wrong address for the former top prosecutor, officials said.

The CNN package, with a half-dozen stamps like the rest, also contained an envelope filled with an unidentified white powder. The live-device bomb found at the network was addressed to ex-CIA director John Brennan, a frequent guest on the cable news channel and a vocal Trump critic.

“There are a number of devices and a pattern,” Gov. Cuomo said at a news conference outside the Time Warner Building. “We wouldn’t be surprised if additional devices are sent.”

The NYPD ramped up security citywide in the wake of what Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio quickly denounced as a terrorist attack, with a department-wide missive urging all officers to “be alert for suspicious activity and unattended packages or bags.”

President Trump joined in the denunciation of the explosive scheme even as critics noted the would-be bomber’s targets mirrored those of the White House.

“This egregious conduct is abhorrent to everything we hold dear as Americans,” said Trump. “We’re extremely angry, upset, unhappy about what we witnessed this morning, and we will get to the bottom of it.”

Pictured is the device that was sent to CNN's New York offices on Wednesday. (CNN/Twitter)

Trump, who routinely hurls insults at his opponents, called this a time “to unify and come together.” But CNN head Jeff Zucker complained that Trump and his chief spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders showed “no comprehension” of how their rhetoric incites his supporters. In fact, a fund-raising letter attacking the news network was sent out by the Trump campaign as CNN staffers fled their office. The Trump camp said the automated message was pre-programmed for distribution.

Mayor de Blasio called on politicians of both parties to stop with their attacks on the nation’s media.

“To all public officials, of all partisan affiliations, don’t encourage violence, hatred and attacks on the media,” said de Blasio. “You can disagree … but air your disagreements peacefully.”

Zucker said that the news operation’s Manhattan offices were evacuated “out of an abundance of caution.” All of CNN’s other offices worldwide were checked, with no other suspicious packages located.

The packages examined Wednesday by federal investigators were all similar in content and appearance to one another — and to a package sent Monday to the oft-maligned Soros, officials said. It was unclear if the malicious mailings were the work of one or more people, and officials noted the package for the Clintons was addressed to Hillary. Schultz’s name was misspelled as “Shultz” on the envelopes.

“What’s sufficing to say, it appears that an individual or individuals sent out multiple similar packages,” said FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force Chief Bryan Paarmann. The recovered bombs were sent to the FBI’s Virginia laboratory for examination.

None of the devices detonated, and no injuries were reported. According to a CBS News report, at least one of the explosive devices featured PVC piping packed with glass and pyrotechnic powder.

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City authorities immediately announced plans for an increased police presence on the subways and streets in response to the bombs. Cops were told to expect extended shifts as a result of the letter bombs, with 100 extra National Guard members called up.

And patrols were increased at locations connected to the Clintons, the Obamas and billionaire Soros, officials said.

“Thank you to the Secret Service and all law enforcement agencies who responded to this week's incidents,” tweeted Bill Clinton, who was in the family’s Chappaqua, Westchester County, home on Tuesday night when officials first noticed the incoming package.

“They work tirelessly to keep our country and communities safe. I am forever grateful for their efforts.”

Cuomo said police checked on the Clinton residence in Chappaqua around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday and found nothing amiss about six hours after the Secret Service seizure. The package for the Clintons immediately set off law enforcement bells because of its resemblance to the Soros mailing.

The Obama package was spied Wednesday morning after the sender addressed the package to the former chief executive’s Washington, D.C., residence.

With Graham Rayman and Marco Poggio

Police officers stand in front of property owned by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton in Chappaqua, N.Y., Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. (Seth Wenig / AP)

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Multiple prominent critics of President Trump targeted with mail bombs

From left: Mayor Bill DeBlasio, NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo appear at a press conference Wednesday after the NYPD safely removed a bomb at CNN headquarters in Manhattan. (Byron Smith for New York Daily News)